Citizen Connect: Transformer eats up pavement space, reaches till road, poses risk to motorists, pedestrians

A portion of an EB transformer extending on to Tank Bund Road in Mahalingapuram near Nungambakkam has become a traffic hazard and threat to two-wheeler riders.

Despite the road having a narrow pavement, the transformer was placed on it. While it obstructs pedestrian movement on the pavement completely, its extension on to the road has turned out to be a grave traffic hazard. “Two-wheeler riders should be extra cautious as there is a chance of them hitting the protracting portion, which is a metal rod,” K Sathish, a motorist, said.

Sathish added that the road has a curve just before the transformer and so it is not visible from a distance.

When DT Next visited the spot, two metal rods were found projecting slightly outside of the pedestrian pavement. “It is also difficult to anticipate the rods while overtaking,” Sathish pointed out.

Apart from difficulties for motorists, the transformer that encroaches the entire width of the pavement poses a danger to pedestrians, too.

“The entire length of the pavement on the road is being encroached by cars and other vehicles forcing use to walk on the road near the transformer. The officials should remove the transformer or modify it in a way to prevent mishaps,” a college student said.

The student added that other students indulge in rash, which makes walking on the road difficult. Making the situation worse, the Greater Chennai Corporation that maintains the pavement has failed to remove unused spools and EB boxes.

An elderly woman walking on the road pointed to the narrowness of the road. “The road is already very narrow. Authorities should clear the pedestrian pavement so that mishaps involving pedestrians and motor vehicles could be prevented,” she added.

When contacted, a Chennai Corporation official said that they have not received any complaints pertaining to the spools and other encroachments. “We will take action to free the pavement for pedestrians,” he added.

He also said that the civic body is framing vending bylaws and once the bylaws are implemented, street vendors of the pavement wouldbe regulated.